Burdens of the what‐if: Vicarious anti‐Black racism and stress for Black mothers

Objective Through qualitative in‐depth interviews with Black mothers, this study explores the role of their children's experiences of anti‐Black racism on their own perceived stress—that is, vicarious racism‐related stress. Background Racism is a system of inequality impeding the health and well‐being of Black families. Specifically, because of the interconnected nature of mother–child relationships, vicarious racism is a pathway for Black maternal stress. This study examines two broad research questions: (1) How do mothers articulate the stress suffered due to their children's experiences of anti‐Black racism? (2) How are mothers perceiving this stress shaping their mental, emotional, and physical well‐being? Method This study utilized qualitative in‐depth interviews with 35 Black mothers of children in adolescence and emerging/young adulthood. Results Mothers in this study discussed thinking about their children's experiences of racism often or daily, an experience defined in this study as hyperawareness. Hyperawareness was the primary source of vicarious racism‐related stress for mothers, through either their children's actualized experiences via rumination or anticipated experiences via hypervigilance. Regardless of whether the experience was actual or anticipated, mothers identified the stress suffered shaping their mental, emotional, and physical well‐being. Conclusion Through a Black feminist lens, this article reveals how Black mothers distinctly identify what vicarious experiences of racism are, and how they generate stress within their familial context. This study extends previous family, race, and well‐being scholarship by exploring various forms of racism that may be contributing to Black maternal health and well‐being.